AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225F Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D records an average benchmark score of 44573, compared to 37313 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F. The AMD part also sits at the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel chip sits at the 85th percentile.

Q: How do the two processors compare in single-threaded performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F leads decisively in PassMark single-thread testing, scoring 4397 versus 3494 for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, a 20.5% advantage. The Intel chip also posts a higher boost clock (4.90 GHz versus 4.50 GHz).

Q: Which processor wins in floating-point math workloads?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F dominates floating-point math, scoring 92554 versus 43594 for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, a 52.9% advantage. This is the largest single delta across all head-to-head benchmark results.

Q: Does the AMD chip win any benchmark categories?

A: Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins two categories: integer math (70774 versus 66417, a 6.6% advantage) and physics (2779 versus 2430, a 14.4% advantage). The Intel processor wins the remaining nine categories.

Q: What are the core and thread configurations of each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F has 10 cores and 10 threads. Despite fewer cores, the AMD chip uses simultaneous multithreading to reach 12 threads, whereas the Intel chip runs one thread per core.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D supports ECC memory, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F does not. Both support DDR5 memory in a dual-channel configuration.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D and Intel Core Ultra 5 225F represent fundamentally different design approaches. The AMD part belongs to the 7000 series and uses the Raphael codename, built on the Zen 4 architecture. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 11,270 million transistors on a 71 mm² die. The Intel part belongs to Core Ultra Series 2, uses the Arrow Lake-S codename, and is built on the Arrow Lake architecture. It is fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Intel chip uses a more advanced process node and packs roughly 58% more transistors, though the die is substantially larger.

The core configurations diverge sharply. The AMD chip uses 6 cores with 12 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading. The Intel chip uses 10 cores with 10 threads, with no multithreading. This means the Intel part has more physical cores, while the AMD part can schedule more threads than it has cores. Cache hierarchies also differ significantly. The AMD chip provides 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 96 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel chip provides 192 KB of L1 per core, 3 MB of L2 per core, and only 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD processor carries a massive L3 advantage (96 MB versus 20 MB), which is characteristic of the X3D lineup.

Memory controllers differ in bandwidth. Both support dual-channel DDR5, but the AMD chip records 83.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, while the Intel chip records 102.4 GB/s. The Intel part offers roughly 23% more memory bandwidth. PCIe lane counts also differ: the AMD chip provides Gen 5 with 24 CPU-only lanes, while the Intel chip provides Gen 5 with 20 CPU-only lanes. The AMD part includes integrated Radeon Graphics, whereas the Intel part has no integrated graphics (listed as N/A). The AMD chip uses AMD Socket AM5, while the Intel chip uses Intel Socket 1851. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

The AMD chip was released on 2025-11-11, while the Intel chip was released earlier on 2025-01-06. Both are desktop parts with active production status. The AMD part uses 65 W TDP, and the Intel part also uses 65 W TDP, so thermal design power is identical.

The Verdict

The benchmark data indicates a clear split in workload suitability. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F wins 9 of 11 head-to-head comparisons and holds decisive advantages in single-thread performance (20.5% ahead), floating-point math (52.9% ahead), data encryption (30.2% ahead), and extended instructions (27% ahead). For general desktop work, content creation, encryption tasks, and any workload that scales with clock speed and physical core count, the Intel part is the stronger choice based on recorded scores.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D wins only 2 of 11 comparisons, but those wins are meaningful. Its physics score (2779 versus 2430, 14.4% ahead) suggests an advantage in physics simulation workloads. Its integer math score (70774 versus 66417, 6.6% ahead) indicates stronger raw integer throughput. The AMD chip also carries the 96 MB L3 cache, which the data does not directly benchmark but which represents a structural advantage for cache-sensitive workloads such as certain gaming scenarios and database operations.

The average benchmark score tells a different story. The AMD chip posts 44573 versus 37313 for the Intel chip, meaning the AMD part is roughly 19.5% higher in aggregate. This discrepancy arises because the AMD chip's nearest rivals (Intel Core Ultra X9 388H at 44466, Intel Core i9-13950HX at 44342, and AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 at 44309) are all high-end mobile and desktop parts, whereas the Intel chip's nearest rivals (Intel Core i9-13900HK at 37425, AMD Ryzen 7 7735H at 37161, and Intel Core i7-13700 at 37135) are mid-range parts. The AMD chip sits 0.2% above its closest rival, while the Intel chip sits 0.3% below its closest rival.

The percentile ranking reinforces this: the AMD chip is at the 89th percentile versus the Intel chip at the 85th percentile. For users prioritizing aggregate throughput and cache capacity, the AMD processor is the better pick. For users prioritizing single-thread speed, floating-point throughput, and multi-core PassMark scores, the Intel processor is the better pick. Neither processor is universally superior; the choice depends on which benchmark categories matter most.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D | Intel Core Ultra 5 225F |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 10 |

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.50 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Codename | Raphael | Arrow Lake-S |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Arrow Lake |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 3 nm |

| Transistors | 11,270 million | 17,800 million |

| Die Size | 71 mm² | 243 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB per core | 192 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 3 MB per core |

| L3 Cache | 96 MB shared | 20 MB shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe Lanes | Gen 5, 24 (CPU only) | Gen 5, 20 (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | N/A |

| Launch MSRP | $269 | $231 |

| Release Date | 2025-11-11 | 2025-01-06 |

| Part Number | 100-000001904 | SRQD2SRVF9 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F demonstrates its largest advantage in floating-point math, scoring 92554 against 43594 for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D, a 52.9% difference. This is the single most lopsided result in the comparison. The Intel chip also shows a 37.2% advantage in find prime numbers (352 versus 221), a 30.2% advantage in data encryption (22648 versus 15797), and a 27% advantage in extended instructions (28027 versus 20455). These results indicate that the Intel architecture handles math-heavy and encryption-heavy workloads with substantially higher throughput.

The Intel chip wins the multithread PassMark test by 19.2% (31004 versus 25047), despite having fewer threads than the AMD part. This suggests that the Intel chip's 10 physical cores provide better multi-core scaling than the AMD chip's 6 cores with 12 threads. The single-thread results mirror this pattern: the Intel chip scores 4397 versus 3494, a 20.5% advantage. Random string sorting also favors the Intel chip (37325 versus 32999, an 11.6% advantage), and data compression favors the Intel chip (310843 versus 271649, a 12.6% advantage).

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D secures two wins. In integer math, the AMD chip scores 70774 versus 66417 for the Intel chip, a 6.6% advantage. In physics, the AMD chip scores 2779 versus 2430, a 14.4% advantage. These wins are notable because they occur in workloads that typically respond to cache capacity and thread scheduling, suggesting that the AMD chip's 96 MB L3 cache provides a tangible benefit in these specific scenarios.

The overall win count is 9 for the Intel chip and 2 for the AMD chip. However, the average benchmark score reverses the picture: the AMD chip posts 44573 versus 37313 for the Intel chip. This divergence between individual test results and aggregate scoring reflects the different test suites used for each processor. The Intel chip's PassMark results are consistently strong, but the AMD chip's average score is buoyed by its proximity to higher-performing rivals in the database.

The nearest rival data places the AMD chip in different company than the Intel chip. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D sits 0.2% above the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, 0.5% above the Intel Core i9-13950HX, and 0.6% above the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, while trailing the Intel Core i5-14600 by 0.7%. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F sits 0.3% below the Intel Core i9-13900HK, 0.4% above the AMD Ryzen 7 7735H, 0.5% above the Intel Core i7-13700, and 0.5% above the AMD Ryzen 7 160. These delta percentages show that both processors are tightly clustered with their direct competitors, with no decisive margin over their nearest rivals.